Desmoyokin/AHNAK Protein Localizes to the Non-Desmosomal Keratinocyte Cell Surface of Human Epidermis

Desmoykin, a high-molecular-weight protein of 680 kD with a 170-um-long dumbbell shape, was originally thought to be localized to the desmosomal attachment plaque and to work as a kind of stabilizer of desmosomes. Recently, desmoyokin was shown to be widely detected in many types of cells that do not possess desmosomes. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the precise localization and possible function of desmoyokin in human epidermis. In 0.2-μm ultrathin crysections of human skin for immunofluorescence, anti-desmoyokin antibody showed a ladder-like staining pattern along the cell surface, whereas anti-desmocollin and anti-desmoplakin antibodies as controls showed a discontinuous dotted staining pattern, indicating their distinct localization. Post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy with cryfixation and crysubstitution revealed that desmoyokin was localized manily along the non-desmosomal and non-hemidesmosomal plasma membrance, but not to the desmosomes and hemidesmosomes themselves. This localization was further confirmed by double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy with antibodies against desmocollin, desmoplakin, or bullous pemphigold antigen. Results indicate that desmoyokin was not localized to the desmosomes themselves as previously considered. Desmoyokin was localized to the non-desmosomal and non-hemidesomosomal epidermal keratinocyte cell surface as a plasma membrane-associated protein, and might play a role in cell adhesion that is not directly associated with desmosomes or hemidesmosomes

Current status and future plan of the Program of the Antarctic Syowa MST/IS radar (PANSY)

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Special session: [S] Future plan of Antarctic research: Towards phase X of the Japanese Antarctic Research Project (2022-2028) and beyond, Tue. 3 Dec. / 2F Auditorium, National Institute of Polar Researc

RacGAP α2-Chimaerin Function in Development Adjusts Cognitive Ability in Adulthood

SummaryA major concern in neuroscience is how cognitive ability in adulthood is affected and regulated by developmental mechanisms. The molecular bases of cognitive development are not well understood. We provide evidence for the involvement of the α2 isoform of Rac-specific guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein (RacGAP) α-chimaerin (chimerin) in this process. We generated and analyzed mice with global and conditional knockouts of α-chimaerin and its isoforms (α1-chimaerin and α2-chimaerin) and found that α-chimaerin plays a wide variety of roles in brain function and that the roles of α1-chimaerin and α2-chimaerin are distinct. Deletion of α2-chimaerin, but not α1-chimaerin, beginning during early development results in an increase in contextual fear learning in adult mice, whereas learning is not altered when α2-chimaerin is deleted only in adulthood. Our findings suggest that α2-chimaerin acts during development to establish normal cognitive ability in adulthood

Adaptability and selectivity of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan agonists revealed from crystal structures

The structures of the ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPARγ and PPARδ) in complexes with a pan agonist, an α/δ dual agonist and a PPARδ-specific agonist were determined. The results explain how each ligand is recognized by the PPAR LBDs at an atomic level

Practical Seminar for Introduction to the Teaching Profession on the Teacher Training Program at Okayama University : For Certain Fixation of Learning Contents and Upbringing of the Practical Qualities , Ability as the Teacher

　全学教職コア・カリキュラムの入門科目に位置付けられている「教職論」の授業については，継続的にその内容や手法に関して改善が図られてきた。平成28 年度についても，過去５年間の取組の成果を踏まえながら，特に次の４つの視点から改善内容を模索し，より実践的で参加型の授業になるように工夫をした。①全学で導入された「60 分授業・4 学期制」に対応し，その利点を生かす。②ワークシートの活用により，個々の受講生が個人で思考する時間を確保する。③ペア学習・グループ学習の時間を設定し，可能な限りアクティブ・ラーニングを導入する。④様々な課題の解決を目指して学校現場で実際に行われている取組を出来るだけ多く紹介する。これらの改善により，学習意欲の向上と学習内容の確実な定着を図った。その結果，受講終了時に実施したアンケート調査では，多くの受講生から授業の意義について肯定的な評価が得られた

Aberrant High Expression of B Lymphocyte Chemokine (Blc/Cxcl13) by C11b+Cd11c+ Dendritic Cells in Murine Lupus and Preferential Chemotaxis of B1 Cells towards Blc

We observed here that the expression of B lymphocyte chemokine (BLC/CXCL13) was markedly enhanced in the thymus and kidney in aged (NZB × NZW)F1 (BWF1) mice developing lupus nephritis, but not in similarly aged NZB and NZW mice. BLC-positive cells were present in the cellular infiltrates in the target organs with a reticular pattern of staining. CD11b+CD11c+ dendritic cells were increased in the thymus and spleen in aged BWF1 mice and identified as the major cell source for BLC. CD4+ T cells as well as B cells were dramatically increased in the thymus in aged BWF1 mice, whereas no increase was observed in aged NZB and NZW mice. B1/B2 ratio in the thymus was significantly higher than those in the spleen and peripheral blood in aged BWF1 mice. Interestingly, BLC showed preferential chemotactic activity for B1 cells derived from several mouse strains, including nonautoimmune mice. Cell surface CXCR5 expression on B1 cells was significantly higher than that on B2 cells. Thus, aberrant high expression of BLC by myeloid dendritic cells in the target organs in aged BWF1 mice may play a pivotal role in breaking immune tolerance in the thymus and in recruiting autoantibody-producing B cells in the development of murine lupus